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ZOHRAN’S PROPOSALS ARE SURPRISINGLY AFFORDABLE – I WISH ALL
REVOLUTIONS CAME THIS CHEAP.  
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Richard (RJ) Eskow
November 3, 2025
The Zero Hour Report
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_ Despite the frantic tone of mainstream media coverage (and the
revolutionary overtones of the phrase “democratic socialist”) most
of Mamdani’s agenda could be accomplished at minimal cost to the
city. The only exception is free universal childcare. _

'We need a better quality of life': Zohran Mamdani on taxing the
rich, tackling hate - Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, one week after
winning the Democratic primary, on NPR's Morning Edition, July 1,
2025., Screenshot of NPR broadcast -
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Here’s something for New York City residents to consider as they
vote for Mayor, and for observers outside New York to consider as they
watch the vote count: for the most part, Zohran Mamdani’s plans for
the city are surprisingly affordable. Despite the frantic tone of
mainstream media coverage (and the revolutionary overtones of the
phrase “democratic socialist”) most of Mamdani’s agenda could be
accomplished at minimal cost to the city. The only exception is his
plan for free universal childcare—whose costs may have been
overstated by his own campaign.

GROCERY STORE PILOT PROGRAM

Mamdani has proposed opening five city-owned grocery stores in the
city, at a cost of $60 million. These stores would use city-owned
property, which means they wouldn’t have to pay rent, and would sell
the food at operating cost without making a profit.

Would it work? Military commissaries are successful. So is Costco,
which operates a trimmed-down, “bare bones
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store model. Small towns and cities
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have already opened public grocery stores, although their problems and
needs differ from those of a city like New York.

_Something _needs to be done. The city has recognized that there is a
grocery store shortage
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residents pay a higher percentage
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of their income for food than the typical American. The corporate
takeover of supermarkets has jacked up prices for everyone, and that
problem is even more acute in places like New York City.

Are city-run grocery stores the solution? Mamdani’s plan is a pilot
program, which means it’s an experiment. It seems like a useful one.
In the worst-case scenario, tens of thousands of city residents will
have affordable groceries while the pilot is underway. For many of
them, it will be the first time in years. And if it works, it could
change life for millions of New Yorkers.

As for cost, $60 million is a tiny fraction of the city’s budget.
Furthermore, New Yorkers—like the rest of us—are already paying an
“invisible tax” on food, as consolidation and corporatization of
the grocery business increases prices for everyone.

“FREE, FAST BUS SERVICE”

First, it’s important to recognize that 48 percent
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of the city’s bus riders board without paying their fares, according
to the Transit Authority. Or, to put that another way: the city’s
bus system is already half “free_._” We’re just talking about
the other half.

Some opponents have argued that free buses will attract
“undesirable” elements. The most generous interpretation of that
iffy phrase means “poorer or more criminally inclined types.” But
they’re the ones riding the buses for free right now! They’re also
disproportionately represented among today’s passengers, since
law-abiding people who can’t afford the fare are forced to walk.

As for expense, the New York Times estimates that it would cost $600
million
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in lost fares to make the buses free. The Times also argues that the
cost could rise to $800 million in lost fares if more people choose to
ride the free buses. But that logic is flawed. Since those new
passengers wouldn’t have been there unless the ride was free, no
revenue has been lost. (If ridership increases for other reasons there
_would_ be lost revenue, but the direct cost of operating the buses
would remain essentially unchanged.)

$600 million is a large number to most of us, of course. But it’s
roughly one-half of one percent of New York City’s 2026 budget, for
something that makes life more affordable for millions of New York
City residents. And the increased ridership will make the “fast”
part more popular, laying the political groundwork for more dedicated
bus lanes.

RENT FREEZE

Mamdani is proposing a freeze on rents, which would apply to roughly
30 percent of the city’s rental units. That would not cost the city
anything, although a case could be made that it could reduce high-end
spending in the city. That’s highly speculative, however.

What we _do_ know is that cash-strapped lower- and middle-income New
Yorkers would have more money to spend for the necessities of
life—and maybe even a small pleasure or two. That will provide an
immediate boost to the city’s economy.

FREE UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE

This is the expensive part of the program. The Mamdani campaign
estimates that the free childcare program will cost $6 billion.
Another group, the Fiscal Policy Institute, estimates that it would
cost a much lower $2.5 billion. Either way, however, there’s no
denying that it’s a lot of money.

New Mexico recently passed a highly popular referendum
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that will provide free and universal childcare to the state’s
residents, but that state had a ready-made revenue stream from the
royalties fossil-fuel companies pay the state for drilling on state
land.

New York, of course, must look elsewhere. There’s no space here to
review Mamdani’s revenue proposal
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in detail but it would cover the cost of the childcare program if
passed, with another $4 billion left over. As many observers have
pointed out, any increase to the state tax would have to be passed in
Albany.

It’s possible that the state legislature will pass the tax hike, but
there are ways to handle the shortfall even if it doesn’t.
Mamdani’s plan also raises $4 billion from a city tax increase on
annual income over $1 million (which, if passed, would still leave
most of those affected paying less than they did before Trump’s tax
cut). It would also raise approximately $1 billion (estimated) from
procurement reform and improved collections. That’s $5 billion,
which is less than the Mamdani team estimates its childcare plan would
cost but double the Fiscal Policy Institute’s estimate.

If the higher estimate is correct, there are a number of intermediate
steps that could be taken until full funding became available. They
could begin with a needs-based program, for example, or they could
limit the age range the plan covers.

The bottom line? Yes, Mamdani’s plans are surprisingly affordable.
Every revolution should come this cheap.

_[__RICHARD (RJ) ESKOW_ [[link removed]]_ is a journalist
and policy consultant who hosts a nationally distributed radio and
television program. Richard was lead writer and editor for Bernie
Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign. His work has been published in
The Nation, the American Prospect, Salon, The Intercept, the Los
Angeles Times, and elsewhere and has been anthologized three times in
book form._

_For decades, Richard worked as a senior executive and expert in
health insurance, social benefits, workers’ compensation, risk
analysis, and finance. He has consulted on health and social policy
for governments and private concerns in more than 20 countries. He has
also been a teacher, a country/western singer, janitor, a nurse’s
aide, a rock’n’roll guitarist and songwriter, and a warehouse
worker._

_Richard’s weekly program, The Zero Hour, is available nationwide on
cable TV, syndicated radio, and online. The program’s guests have
included Bernie Sanders, Jeremy Corbyn, Sherrod Brown, Imran Khan, and
a range of leading activists, authors, and academics._

_Richard was also a Senior Fellow with Social Security Works and a
Senior Fellow with the Campaign for America’s Future.]_ 

* Zohran Mamdani
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* New York City mayoral election
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* democratic socialist
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* DSA
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* free universal child care
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* Child Care
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* city-owned grocery stores
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* free fast bus service
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* bus service
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* Public transportation
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* Public Transit
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* rent freeze
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* rent
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* state taxes
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* tax the rich
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* Stock Transfer Tax
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